Public utilities: electrical corporations: energization.

The bill now applies only to 'large electrical corporations' as defined in Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code, rather than all electrical corporations as previously defined under Section 218. This narrows which utilities must comply.

All obligations were restructured so that the Public Utilities Commission must require large electrical corporations to comply, acting in a new or existing proceeding, rather than the bill directly imposing duties on the corporations themselves.

The deadline for posting energization application information on websites changed from a fixed date of July 1, 2026 to 'a date specified by the commission,' giving the commission flexibility to set the timeline.

The time periods for determining application completeness now explicitly reference Commission Decision 24-09-020 (September 12, 2024) on target energization time periods, or any subsequent commission decision adjusting those periods, rather than standing as independent statutory deadlines.

The bill moved from adding Section 65913.3.2 to the Government Code to adding Section 934.5 to the Public Utilities Code, reclassifying it as a public utilities matter rather than a planning and zoning matter.

The separate definition of 'electrical corporation' was removed. Only 'housing development project' remains defined, now cross-referencing Section 65905.5 of the Government Code explicitly.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now imposes costs on local agencies that may trigger reimbursement obligations under the California Constitution.

Removed formal enrolled bill formatting including chapter heading, Chief Clerk and Secretary signature blocks, governor's receipt date line, and page numbers

Added website navigation elements (skip to content, home, accessibility, FAQ, search boxes), bill metadata panels (version history, status dates, share options), and a digest key showing vote/appropriation/fiscal/local program flags

The bill now adds Section 934.5 to the Public Utilities Code instead of Section 65913.3.2 to the Government Code, repositioning it from housing/planning law to public utilities regulation.

All provisions related to postentitlement phase permits are removed, including the detailed definition covering building permits, demolition permits, excavation and grading permits, minor or standard off-site improvements, and California Building Standards Code permits. The bill now addresses only energization applications.

The legislative digest now references the Powering Up Californians Act, noting that the Public Utilities Commission must establish reasonable average and maximum target energization time periods by September 30, 2024, and require electrical corporations to take remedial actions to meet those targets.

The completeness determination timeline changes from a flat 15 business days to an average of 10 business days with a maximum of 45 business days, and the Public Utilities Commission may specify a different timeline.

The unit-count-based tiered timelines are eliminated. The Assembly version had separate deadlines for projects with 25 units or fewer (30 business days) versus 26 units or more (60 business days). The Senate version uses a single 30-business-day deadline for all projects.

The noncompliance provisions are removed entirely. The Assembly version required electrical corporations to provide a list of noncompliant items, descriptions of remedies, and allowed applicants to resubmit. The Senate version has no equivalent.

The provision making failure to meet time limits a violation of Section 65589.5 (Housing Accountability Act) is removed. Instead, violations are now treated as crimes under the Public Utilities Act, and the state-mandated local program designation changes from 'no' to 'yes.'

The appeal process is simplified. The Assembly version specified 60 business days for final written determination on appeals for projects with 25 units or fewer and 90 business days for 26 units or more. The Senate version only requires the electrical corporation to provide a process for appeal, without specific timelines.

A new Section 2 is added providing that no reimbursement is required under Article XIII B of the California Constitution because any costs incurred result from the act creating a new crime or changing a penalty.

The fiscal committee review designation changes from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal committee review due to its repositioning into the Public Utilities Code and state-mandated local program status.

The definition of 'local agency' in Section 65913.3(j)(2) is expanded to include 'electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code,' in addition to the existing categories of county, city, or city and county.

By redefining electrical corporations as local agencies, permits they issue for housing development projects are no longer excluded from the postentitlement phase permit requirements under paragraph (C), which excludes permits issued by 'a utility that is not owned and operated by a local agency.' Since electrical corporations are now local agencies, their permits fall within the covered scope.

The entire amendment to Section 65913.3 (the existing local agency postentitlement phase permit requirements) was deleted. The bill no longer modifies how cities and counties process housing permits; it only creates new obligations for electrical corporations.

Throughout the new electrical corporation section, references to 'postentitlement phase permit' are replaced or supplemented with 'energization,' narrowing the focus to the specific process of connecting a development to the electrical grid rather than all post-entitlement permits.

The deadline for determining whether an application is complete changed from a flat 15 business days to 'within an average of 10 business days and a maximum of 45 business days,' with an added proviso that the Public Utilities Commission may specify a different timeline.

The fiscal committee vote changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has state fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee approval.

The requirement that a local agency identify permit thresholds 'by ordinance' was removed; electrical corporations may simply identify a threshold supported by written findings, since they do not pass ordinances.

The appeal process was simplified: it no longer specifies appeal to a governing body or planning commission (which applied to local agencies) and instead just requires the electrical corporation to 'provide a process for the applicant to appeal that decision.'

New Government Code Section 65913.3.2 is added, creating a standalone set of requirements specifically for electrical corporations regarding postentitlement phase permits, including information compilation, application completeness determinations, review deadlines, appeal processes, and enforcement through the Housing Accountability Act.

Electrical corporations must make required permit information available on their websites no later than July 1, 2026. They must determine application completeness within 15 business days, complete review within 30 business days (25 units or fewer) or 60 business days (26 or more), and resolve appeals within 60 or 90 business days respectively.

Failure by an electrical corporation to meet the time limits in the new section constitutes a violation of Section 65589.5 (the Housing Accountability Act), giving applicants a legal remedy for delays.

The definition of 'local agency' in Section 65913.3 is amended to include 'electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code,' and the exclusion for 'a utility that is not owned and operated by a local agency' is removed from the 'postentitlement phase permit' definition.

A coauthor (Assembly Member Haney) was added to the bill, indicating broader legislative support for the expanded scope targeting electrical corporations.